Sins of the Father – 7

"Cap" Roy was visibly shaking and struggling to find the right words, "I don't know where to start."

Hank wasn't sure where to start either. He wanted to ask a thousand questions but he knew he needed to let his senior paramedic say what was on his mind…..if he could.

"Roy, you don't have to say anything right now," he said in a consoling voice.

"I owe you a big apology; I owe all the guys one," Roy managed to say even though his emotions were obviously spent.

"Does that include the one who just walked out of here?" Hank knew that almost sounded like a joke but he needed to know where the two stood with each other.

"Especially Junior," Roy turned his head away from Hank with that comment and Hank could see that he was screwing his eyes shut - but a couple of drops were leaking out no matter how tightly he held them.

Hank felt his own chest constrict at the sound of Roy's nickname for John. Roy was the only one who called John 'Junior' and it was obviously a term of endearment. For the first time in over a week, he felt like there was a good chance that he'd get his entire crew back together on the same shift soon; unless, John was opposed to working with Roy now.

"Roy, just rest ok, Pal? You've been through a very draining afternoon and you've got some healing to do." He saw Roy give a slight shake of his head. Hank couldn't think of anything else to say so he just patted Roy on the shoulder and then leaned back in his chair to wait; hoping Roy would fall asleep and Joanne would soon return.

-x-

Johnny wasn't sure what to expect when Joanne knocked on the door of room 218. He wanted to tell her that he'd just wait outside but he really didn't know how to tell her that he'd already visited the patient in there - or that she'd kicked him out.

"Come in" came that same pleasant voice that he'd heard earlier.

Oh please don't claw her eyes out, Joanne….it's not what you think…..

Joanne slowly pushed the door open to find a pretty young lady sitting on the hospital bed wearing an outfit quite similar to John's. She was waiting for her taxi to arrive and take her back to her hotel but since her clothing had been soiled from the accident, the hospital had issued her a pair of scrubs too.

"Danielle?" she asked tentatively.

"yes, I'm Danielle" she said and then her eyes darkened as John walked into the room behind Joanne.

"Back for another stab, Mr. Gage?" she asked shifting her eyes from Joanne to John and then to her hands in her lap.

"No, Danielle…" he wanted to say more but nothing came to mind.

Joanne completely missed their verbal exchange; she was standing there staring at Danielle in stunned silence.

Oh God, here it comes…..thought John as he watched Joanne walk slowly toward the woman sitting on the bed. Then an unexpected smile broke out on Joanne's face catching him completely off guard.

"Danielle," Joanne hesitated only a moment but it was long enough for Danielle to look up at her. "I, um, I'm Joanne…..Roy's told me all about you….and I just wanted to come down and meet you….uh, oh my goodness, you do have his eyes!"

Joanne was standing directly in front of Danielle staring into the same eyes she'd been staring into since she and Roy were in elementary school. Those crystal blues were beginning to fill with tears and Danielle's hand went to her mouth as she looked down again and began to tremble. Huge tears were falling down her cheeks and splashing into her lap. She tried to find her voice but couldn't. Joanne quickly sat down on the bed beside her and wrapped her in a sideways hug. Neither woman spoke for a long moment; a moment of pure agony for John.

He held his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "Um, somebody mind clueing me in here?" he said in more of a whisper than his normal speaking voice.

Danielle was still too overcome to speak so Joanne looked up at Johnny, without ever losing her grip on Danielle, and began to explain the circumstances that brought them to this point in their lives.

"Johnny, Danielle is Roy's sister. Roy had no idea she even existed until she wrote him a letter a few weeks ago. They met for the first time last night. He was taking her back to her hotel when the accident happened."

John stood in stunned silence. The letter Cap gave Roy a few weeks ago. That's when his behavior had begun to change….

He was lost in thought when Joanne called out to him; obviously for at least the second time.

"Johnny…..don't just stand there. Welcome her into the family." She said with glistening eyes.

"Oh, uh, I don't know if she wants to shake my hand or slap my face," he grinned with a blush. He thought he heard a slight snicker from Danielle who was then looking up at him and holding out her hand.

"Truce?" she asked looking at him with a smile.

"Yea, truce" he said and took her hand into his own. She was still shaking from the excitement but her hand felt so soft against his rugged one. No wonder she'd reacted the way she did when he'd come by a few hours ago. His mind was reeling with questions but they'd have to wait.

"Ms. Gallager, your taxi is here," said the nurse who came into the room with a wheelchair.

"Well, my chariot awaits" Danielle said, to no one in particular. She rose then and eased herself into the wheelchair. "Please tell Roy I never meant to hurt anyone and I am sorry."

"No, I can't do that" came Joanne's surprising answer. "You'll just have to tell him yourself when you come over for dinner when he gets home." Joanne was smiling from ear to ear. "He told me that you've got another week here in L.A. and we're going to spend that time getting to know each other better."

Danielle couldn't hold back the toothy smile that lit up her entire face. She didn't even mind that it made her stitches pull a little. She had just been welcomed into the family by her sister-in-law; something she had never dreamed would happen. She gave Joanne the phone number of the hotel where she was staying and Joanne promised to call and keep her apprised of Roy's condition and when he would be released.

"Now, get some rest and I'll be checking on you too, Danielle, alright?" asked Joanne.

"Alright," Danielle responded with a smile as the nurse stepped behind the wheelchair and began pushing her out of the room and towards the elevator doors; leaving behind Joanne…. and one very confused paramedic.

"Uh, Joanne?" Johnny asked while rubbing his face and chin with his right hand.

"I know, Johnny,….. I know. There's a lot more to this story and I promise to tell you all I know; problem is, there's more to it than Roy is telling me." And for the first time since they'd left Roy's room he saw a shadow cross the face of his former partner's wife – a cloud of worry she'd managed to hide from Danielle but that she could not hide from John.